September/October 2004 Volume 37, No. 5

On the inside...

From the Conference Minister 2

Women’s Ministries Committee News 2

Carlton’s Comments 3

Bryan’s Bytes 3

Annual Family Conference 4&5

CCCC People to Pray For 6

Needs & News from Iraq 6

Father Abraham 6&7

Promotions To Glory 7

Ministerial Changes/Opportunities 7

Health Tips 7

Family Conference Apparel 8

THE FORESEEConservative Congregational Christian Conference

“Building International Bridges of Witness and Fellowship”

Around The ConferenceAnswering the Call

by Rev. Joel Kletzing, Western Pennsylvania Area Representative,Christ Church, Roaring Spring, PA

Community Fellowship Dinners Fulfill a Need and Spread the Gospel

Eugene Smith has been actively involved in the leadership of St. Paul CongregationalChurch in Rural Valley, PA. The Lord called him from this rural community and thehectic pace of his excavating business to go to Siberia and Belarus as an ambassador ofheaven.

Prior to his answering God’s call, changes started happening in his life when in December2002 his wife of 32 years had a stroke. Susie went to be with our Lord on January 5,2003. Two months later our Lord saw fit to invite Eugene’s mother to join the saints inheaven as well. And, weeks after Susie’s funeral, Eugene’s only child, Matthew, fell inlove and was married seven months later. Now Eugene was alone.

Eugene felt the call to travel with Josh McDowell Ministries to Siberia in June/July 2003and to Belarus in January /February 2004. He distributed aid and explained to those inprisons, orphanages, hospitals and social centers God’s faithfulness to those who embraceJesus. The first patient he ministered to in a hospital was there because of a stroke.Eugene was able to share about his own loss and how Jesus had been a true friend.

“For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was astranger and you invited me in. I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine,you did for me.” Matthew 25:35& 40

To help feed those who hunger and to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ is the two-fold mission of the once-a-month freeCommunity Fellowship Dinner held at Salem Evangelical Church.

The monthly event gives Rev. Patrick Street and other church membersthat provide the meal anopportunity to reach out totheir community. Somepeople come to the dinner outof genuine need for a free,hot meal. Others simply cometo socialize.

To fund the dinners, Salemholds a “Souper Sunday”after services on the firstSunday of every month.Church members drop

money in a basket near the food line and the donations pay for the CommunityFellowship Dinners.

Rev. Street says, “The dinners are important because they afford Salem anopportunity to take the Gospel to the people of Marion, to pray for them, talk tothem, and reach out to them.”

by Rev. Peter Perry, Eastern Ohio Area Representative, Cleveland, OH

Eugene Smith with a child at asocial center for the abused

or financially troubled inKemerovo, Siberia.

People from the community enjoying food &fellowship.

Volume 37 2 Number 5

From theConference Minister

Women’s MinistriesCommittee News

THE FORESEEA bi-monthly publication of theConservative CongregationalChristian Conference.

Conf. President: Nick GranitsasConf. Minister: Steve Gammon

Conference Office:

Phone: 651-739-1474Fax: 651-739-0750E-mail: dmjohnson@ccccusa.orgWebsite: www.ccccusa.orgPrayer Requests:CCCCprayer@hotmail.netMail address:

7582 Currell Blvd. Suite 108St. Paul, MN 55125-2220

THE FORESEE Editor: Carol WellsE-mail: cawells10@msn.comFax: 651-730-6228Phone: 651-735-1832Mail address:

2789 Wimbledon RidgeWoodbury, MN 55125

Deadline for the November/December 2004 issue is September10, 2004.

(continued on page 3)

It’s hard to believe that the summer isbehind us, the Annual Conference inSioux Falls is only a memory, and thechildren are back in school. Not only isthat all true, but we are beginning to setour sights on our 57th Annual FamilyConference which is less than a yearaway and will be back on the East Coastin Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. It is not tooearly to begin planning and praying forthe speakers and workshops and theactivities that will be a part of makingthis coming Conference even betterthan the one we recently enjoyedtogether.

The Women’s Ministries Committee iscounting on your prayers and supportfor our missions projects as we lookforward to 2005. We want to challengeeach of you to toss your change into adish for at least one week before theend of this year and designate that forour missions projects. Perhaps you canadd to that the money you would spenddriving up to the coffee shop by driving

past it instead. If we are willing tosacrifice the change in our pockets forjust one week, think of what God mightdo with that! We will keep you postedas you graciously give. We will continueproviding money for books for thechildren and seminary students in Indiathrough “Friends of Hope.” And we lookforward to being able to help some ofour teens participate in short-termmissions through “Teaming with Teens.”Pastors and Youth Pastors, if you knowof any teens who are in need of financialhelp for short term missions trips, pleasecontact us. We want to be able toencourage our young people in the areaof missions and assist them when thereis a need. We look forward to seeinghow God will multiply and use yourgiving. Please send any donations toMrs. Sandy Stewart, P.O. Box 249,Avon, MN 56310. God bless you for yourgenerosity.

A Covenant is an agreement betweentwo or more persons to do or not dosomething specified. The Bibledescribes wonderful covenantalpromises made by God to humanity.Some are conditional covenants (as inGenesis 17 - see 17:4,9) and some areunconditional (as in Genesis 15 – see15:17-19). Covenantal agreementsbetween God’s people are also found inHis Word, as for example a covenantof marriage (see Malachi 3:14) and acovenant of friendship (see Genesis31:44). Essentially, in God’s economy,covenants are promises made to definethe commitment and nature of arelationship. Prime examples of this arethe vows made in wedding covenantsto love, honor, and cherish no matterwhat, until death separates. But suchrelationships will only be as strong asthe commitment of its members to keeptheir covenant.

The fellowship of the CCCC has itsroots in God’s new covenant with usthrough the blood of our Lord and SaviorJesus Christ (see I Cor.11:25). Thenature of our relationships with eachother must find its source and life inChrist’s covenant with us. Thus, in ourlocal churches and in our Conference,to honor Christ, our relationships witheach other must reflect commitment,sacrifice, and love. When suchcommitment is lacking, the Lord cannotdemonstrate His character among us.

Before the CCCC Annual FamilyConference in Sioux Falls the Board ofDirectors met for two full days. On thefirst of our days together we focused

our attention on looking ahead, anddiscussed a vision for the future of ourConference. I will be writing more aboutthis in other venues, but I want to affirmnow that the strength of our Conference,and the strength of our Churches isdirectly connected to the covenants thatwe make and keep with the Lord andwith one another. Two excellentdocuments in our 2004 Yearbook (pages130-131) are the “Code of Ethics forMinisters” and the “Code of Ethics forChurches”. These pages reflectsignificant commitments our ministersand churches are asked to make. I askyou to consider these documents asCCCC Covenants. I ask you to readthem carefully, discuss them with yourchurch leadership team, and make acommitment before God to aim to liveaccording to these covenants. This isand will be a vital part of our CCCCvision to honor Jesus Christ!

Volume 37 3 Number 5

Carlton’s Comments Bryan’s Bytesby Bryan Burrell

Thank you, Liz Eklund

Rev. Carlton WalkerPhone: 518-346-3538E-mail:cgwalker@ccccusa.org

(Women’s Ministries Committee News cont.)

“We do not want your help; we do notneed your help. Sit down!” It was withsimilar words that I was summarilydismissed several years ago by a manwho attended the church to which I hadgone as an Area Representative for thepurpose of helping with a problemsituation. He continued by informing methat the church was congregational andthat meant they could do whatever theywanted to do. No one could tell themdifferently.

Most members of our churches wouldnot express themselves in that exactway but I fear that many of them woulddefine what it means to becongregational with similar words.Historically, however, congregationalchurches have believed that they canprofit a great deal from the assistanceof other congregations. A congregationoften needs another’s help, although anyultimate decision must be made by thelocal church itself. Also beingcongregational means that decisionsshould be made not on the basis of what“WE want to do” but on the basis ofwhat “CHRIST would want us to do.”

The Cambridge Platform, a foundationof church discipline and practice, wasapproved in New England in 1649 andbecame the standard for congregationalchurches in the colonies for many yearsto come. Those who drew up thedocument were very careful to state thatthey did not approve of the term“independent” when applied to localchurches. In fact, in chapter fifteen, theauthors articulated six different waysthat local congregations should help andencourage each other and work togetherin accomplishing God’s purposes. Those

six are to: (1) look out for one another’swelfare; (2) consult one another to helpsolve difficult problems of a personal orprocedural nature; (3) call acongregation to task for not recognizingor dealing with a public offense in itsmidst; (4) participate together in suchthings as worship and the Lord’sSupper; (5) assist members to find anew congregation when they move and(6) meet financial and personnel needsof sister churches when needed.

I am firmly convinced that if we asmember churches in the ConservativeCongregational Christian Conferenceare going to effectively meet thechallenges of today and tomorrow in away that will honor the Lord, we mustmove closer together. We cannot becontent just to “do our own thing.” TheChurch of Jesus Christ is being attackedby the evil one both from inside andfrom outside its borders. We must prayfor one another in a much greater way;we must encourage one another togrow in our walk with Jesus Christ to amuch greater degree, we must standstrongly together behind the financialneeds of our ministries, and we muststand hand in hand against those whowould move our society’s ethics furtherand further from the standards of God’sWord. Three hundred and fifty-fiveyears ago the authors of the CambridgePlatform set us an example. It is up tous to follow that example in ourgeneration.

It is with great pleasure that weintroduce you to our ladies luncheonspeaker for the 2005 Annual FamilyConference. Her name is LucindaSecrest McDowell and she hails fromWethersfield, Connecticut where herhusband Michael is a CCCC pastor. Sheis a well-known national conferencespeaker and author who has written forfifty different magazines, collaboratedon a dozen books, and authored five of

Expansion Dreams Realized

This past year has seen many of ourdreams for the website of the CCCCbegin to come together. Last year only80 people had signed up to be membersof the CCCC website, which is free tojoin. Today over 460 people aremembers, giving us unprecedentedopportunities to expand the use of forms,internal reports and conferenceinformation.

The Mid-Atlantic fellowship joined theCCCC website through the diligenceand assistance of John Kimball. He hasbeen added as an administrator inaddition to the Conference Minister andDiane Johnson. I continue to work withour Steve Gammon to establish criteriafor the selection of administrators forportions of the CCCC website includingarea fellowships and conferencecommittees. The Women’s Committeehas contacted me and has indicated theirwillingness to add their information tothe CCCC website before the nextAnnual Meeting. If you believe you canassist us in this vital, expanding ministry,please call me at 914-714-8577 anytime.

her own (one released just this month).We know that we will be richly blessedas she ministers to us in Harrisburg.Make plans now to join us there andpray along with us as we prepare forthat Conference.

We still have Seasons of the Heart, adevotional book, available for yourpurchase. They are $10 and can beordered from Sandy Stewart. Theywould make a great Christmas gift forthat hard-to-shop-for woman on yourlist. Get them while they’re hot!

Thank you for your faithful prayersupport and the encouragement that somany of you have been as we havelabored together for His glory!

(Women’s Ministries Committee News cont.)

Volume 37 4 Number 5

“Rejoice! Jesus is Lord!” 56 th Annual Family ConferenceSioux Falls Conference Center, Sioux Falls, SD

July 19-22, 2004“Blessing and honor and glory and power be to Him who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb

forever and ever!” Revelation 5:13b

Informative Seminars and Exhibits to Build Our Leadership Skills andEncourage Spiritual Growth

Wonderful Speakers To Teach Us About Rejoicing In The Lord

Raymond Ortlund Jr.Morning Messages

Anne OrtlundLadies’ Luncheon

Ray OrtlundTuesday-WednesdayEvening Messages

La Rue GoetzMen’s Luncheon

Stephen GammonCCCC Conference MinisterMonday Evening Message

Thank God for His wonderful presence, blessing, and leading at the 56th Annual Family Conference in Sioux Falls.

Volume 37 5 Number 5

Great Times Renewing Old Friendships and Worshipping The Lord Together

Youth ConferenceRaising up This Generation for Christ (T.G.F.C.)

Children’s ConferenceKids Learning How To Become a 24:7 Disciple

Volume 37 6 Number 5

CCCC People to Pray ForPlease Pray For:

• The team traveling to Bolivia September 10-25 onour CCCC Short-Term Missions Trip, as they re-roof a mission home at Charagua.

• The upcoming regional meetings including: Michi-gan CCCC Pastors and Wives retreat meetingSeptember 20-21, Mid-Atlantic Regional Fellow-ship October 1-2, Northern Illinois FellowshipOctober 9, Upper Midwest CongregationalFellowship October 9.

• The ministries of our Conference Minister, ourNortheast Regional Minister, our 26 Area Represen-tatives, and all of our CCCC Committees. Pray alsofor the Micronesia Ministries Committee meeting tobe held October 25-26.

• Churches seeking Pastors and Pastors seekingChurches.

• The upcoming national, state, and local elections.

Chaplain Marc Gauthier, U.S. Army, is trying to develop a DVD library for the men he serves in Iraq to help boost morale.He is asking CCCC churches to donate movies that could be offered to the soldiers. Please send the DVD’s to: MarcGauthier, Box 5, APO, AE 09391. Please keep Chaplain Gauthier and his family in your prayers.

Chaplain Alan Hardy, U.S. Army, spent the evening of Father’s Day in Iraqgiving out toys and candy to kids in the village. He says, “It was a little rough.One little girl stood off to the side. I waved at her and she blew me a kiss. Thedaddy who always wanted a daughter just melted. I reached into the box of toysand pulled out a Snow White doll and gave it to her. Other children grab yourhand and say, ‘Take me to America with you.’

The baby in the photo with the old Army shirt is a 6-month old named Joseph.He has a cataract in his left eye and the other kids tease him about it.” Pleasekeep Chaplain Hardy, his family, and the children of Iraq in your prayers.

Chaplain Scott Baker, U.S. Air Force, was deployed to Iraq. Please pray for him and his wife Martha and their five children.

by Vera S. Vergatti, Emmanuel Bethel Church, Royal Oak, MI

That spring morning brought a French voice on my phone: “Bonjour! We are going to meet everybody tomorrow evening at the AirFrance ticket counter at 18:00 sharp. Be there!” Rev. Clair Longuevan was gathering his flock for the short-term mission trip toBelgium.

We were going to Liege, a large French-speaking city of 200,000 inhabitants, situated on the river Meuse. For two weeks we wouldsleep, eat, and pray on a barge on the river. It was to be a challenge in faith, as we shared the tiny cabins, the tiny kitchen, and theboat’s washing machine!

We were to take the Gospel witness to homes in the area and distribute literature. Each day after devotions our group would divideup the area for the day’s distribution of literature. We would cross the bridge over the Meuse and be on our way to spread the Word.

The literature was put into boxes that had been used to import bananas. We took turns staying in the van to watch the “bananas.”My turn came. As I was watching the people passing by, I heard a firm knock on the back window. There were two Belgianpolicemen outside who seemed very interested in our “bananas.” “Oh Lord,” I prayed, “be with me and help me tell the truth, nomatter what.”

I smiled. “What are you selling here?” came the dreaded question. “I am not selling anything, sir.” I said. And, as confidently as Icould under the circumstances, I handed them a package saying, “This is some very nice reading for you. You may like it.” The twopolicemen looked at each other and smiled with an understanding expression on their faces. “Don’t worry Madame! We knowwhat they are; we even have them in our homes. And, we also know why you are here. Welcome to Liege!” I was so happy thatthe two policemen were part of the 0.5% minority of Belgium’s population who are evangelistic Christians and that I could rest inthe Lord!

Father Abraham, Let’s Praise the Lord!

Needs and News from Iraq

(continued on page 7)

Volume 37 7 Number 5

Pastoral Changes:Newburg IA Newburg-Chester Congregational Church* called

Jeff MaskevichWilton WI Faith Congregational Church* called Gordon Elliott

Pastoral Openings:Burlington CO Hope Congregational Church*Hebron CT First Congregational Church*Freeport IL Zion Church*N Aurora IL Union Congregational Church*Stillman Valley IL Congregational Christian Church (Ind)Pownal ME First Parish Congregational ChurchAshburnham MA Peoples Evangelical Congregational Ch*Fitchburg MA Elm Street Congregational (UCC)Mansfield MA First Christian Church*Clarkston MI First Congregational Church (NACCC)Edina MN Colonial Church of Edina*Scottsbluff NE Emmanuel Congregational Church*Milton Mills NH Liberty Congregational Church* (part time)Peterborough NH Trinity Evangelical Church*Wolfeboro NH First Christian Church*Philadelphia PA St. Mark’s Reformed Church*

* = Conference member + = In process

Changes and Opportunities

Health TipsFlu SeasonInfluenza vaccine is now being routinelyrecommended for children 6-23 months of agerather than merely being encouraged, as in thepast. Also, close contacts of healthy children 0-23months of age should receive the influenza vaccinebecause children in this age group are at increasedrisk for influenza related hospitalizations.

Check with your physicians to scheduleadministration of the influenza vaccine for yourfamily before the flu comes to your community.Source: www.cdc.gov

Backpacks – Pack It Light, Wear It Right

A child should carry no more than 15% of theirbody weight in a backpack (e.g., a 100 pound childshould carry no more than 15 pounds) to preventaching back and shoulders, weakened muscles,tingling arms or stooped posture. Place the heaviestitems closest to the child’s back so the items donot slide around. If the backpack is over loaded,have your child hand carry a book or other item.

Both shoulder straps should always be worn.Choose a pack with well-padded shoulder strapsand adjust the straps to allow the pack to fit snuglyagainst the curve of the child’s back. Use the waistbelt if one is available. Have the bottom of thepack resting in the curve of the lower back. Selectthe right size pack for your child’s back as well ashaving enough room for needed school supplies.Source: www.aota.org

by Betty Mitchell, RN, Parish NurseEmmanuel Bethel ChurchRoyal Oak, MI

Promotions to Glory

Rev. Clinton K. Bahrenburg,Pastor of Buck ValleyChristian Church inWarfordsburg, PA since June1981, went home to the gloryof heaven on June 29, 2004,at the age of 57.

Clint has been affiliated withthe CCCC since 1980. He wasactive in the Western Pennsylvania RegionalFellowship, and was a member of the CCCCMinistry Committee. Clint is survived by his wifeDebbie.

On Sunday we went to help at the Belgian Evangelical Mission (BEM)Children’s Camp, at an international meeting of over two hundred brothersand sisters and their children. Where were we going to be? There was nolarge assembly hall…unless we were to build a tent…and, that’s what wedid. We put up a large black and white canvas tent where the meetingwould be.

We participated in the activities, helped prepare lunch in the kitchen, andorganized our little choir. We joined in the singing of the hymns we knewfrom home, even though in this camp they were sung in many differentlanguages, but all praising the same sublime Lord!

We decided to teach this congregation an American song - “FatherAbraham.” From the podiumI translated the words intoFrench and did all the gestures:“Father Abraham has manysons, many sons has FatherAbraham. I am one of themand so are you, so let’s justpraise the Lord.” Everybody,old and young, followed myinstructions: “Lift first the rightarm, then the left arm, then eachfoot in turn, then chin up, turnaround and finally they satdown laughing and praising theLord!”

The praise in many languages continued as people headed for home. Asmiling Clair was waiting for us in the van to take us back to the barge onthe Meuse “just praising the Lord!”

(Father Abraham cont.)

Vera Vergatti leading the audience insinging “Father Abraham”

Volume 37 8 Number 5

THE FORESEESeptember/October 2004 Volume 37, No. 5

ConservativeCongregationalChristianConference

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Family Conference Apparel

Gayle BrimmerForesee PublicationsPhone: 651-739-1474Fax: 651-739-0750E-mail:gmbrimmer@ccccusa.org

“Rejoice! Jesus Is Lord!”

Conference T-Shirts* $10.00Logo Golfshirt* $27.00Denim Shirts* $27.00Mugs $5.00

*Men’s & women’s shirts. Severalsizes & colors available. Call formore information.

Remember October is“Pastors Appreciation

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